At some point in your life, even with great homecare and regular dental visits, you may experience gum recession. It affects the majority of our population to some degree. “Gum recession is when the margin of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth wears away, or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth, or the tooth’s root.” (Oral B) Gum recession can often be a slow process, and one day you may look at your teeth and realize they look “longer.”
Before and after gingival gum graft. (JADA)
Causes of Recession
- Anatomy/Type of Tissue
- Irregular Tooth Position
- Periodontal Disease and Plaque Along the Gumline
- Aggressive Brushing
- Trauma
- Chewing Tobacco
Treatment for Recession
Recession will continue to increase if left untreated. Now, while that may be a slow progression the resulting bone loss is irreversible. The cause will need to be determined to prevent furthering recession.
In some cases, it may be advised that the cause be treated (quitting tobacco, brushing less aggressively, treating periodontal disease, etc) and the recession be monitored for any further progression. In other cases, a gingival graft may be recommended.
Your Oral Health
Your oral health is one of the single most important controllable factors for preventing recession. Scheduling regular hygiene visits with your hygienist and routine home care of brushing 2x/day and flossing daily will greatly decrease the start and progression of recession. As always, if you have questions or areas of concern, please let us know at your next visit!
References/Resources
Oral B – https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/gums/receding-gums-symptoms-causes-treatments
JADA – https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)63227-X/fulltext